New february 2016 newsletter

Washington County Cooperative Extension Service

HORTICULTURE February 2016 Volume 12, Issue 2 Inside this issue:

Time To control Fruit Diseases Cont.‌.

2

Time To Control Fruit Diseases

3

Master Gardeners News

3

Earthworms Cause Rough 4 Lawns Prune and Fertilize Fruit 5 Trees To Do’s For February

6

Beekeepers News

6

A Note From Dennis

6

Wheelbarrow Series Schedule

7

Recipe Of The Month

8

Plant of the Month Hellebores

9

Recipe Of The Month

10

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Washington County Horticulture

February Plant of The Month Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) Suggested planting rate: ten bulbs per 1 / ft sq.

Planting Location: Sun - partial shade Height: 4-6" Blooms: February Bulb size: 6+ cm bulbs USDA zone: 4-6 Notes: Small, white pendulous blooms with long, slender petals that drape delicately over the perianth. Blooms early like crocus and is very hardy.

Excellent for naturalizing under trees and in the grass, as they multiply rapidly once established and like moist, almost heavy soil.

Time To Control Fruit Diseases Winter believe it or not is a good time to prepare fruiting crops for the season ahead. It has been too cold for most of the winter for many of us to feel like braving the outdoors to any activities that aren’t absolutely essential, but on the next warm day it is very important for us to get some work done to insure a nice fruity harvest this summer.

Many fruit diseases can be partially controlled by being vigilant with cleanup and fungicidal sprays at proper times. Also, remember pruning should take place in late February on fruiting trees. Below is a list of fruit crops along with diseases of concern and some things to do to help you have a successful harvest.

mixture to apply to the apple twigs tree or on the ground. and branches just as the buds begin  Prune out black knot disease to swell next month. swellings from plum trees.  Obtain a scab Obtain brown rot and fungicide with ingrescab fungicides with dients such as maningredients such as cozeb, captan, myclosulfur, captan, or mybutanil, or thiophanclobutanil. Read and ate-methyl so that understand the chemisprays can be applied cal labels. as green foliage Grapes- The diseases (green tips) is just of concern in early emerging and repeatspring are black rot, Black Rot On Grape ed periodically anthracnose, cane and throughout the spring leaf spot, and downy months. mildew.

Carefully read fungicide labels before  Prune the grape canopy to allow making spray applications. good sunlight penetration and air Stone fruits-The diseases of concern movement, as well as to maximize in early fruit production. spring  Prune out any diseased, dead, or are cankered vines. peach  Remove and destroy all of last leaf curl, year's fruit mummies hanging on the Apples-The displum eases of concern vine and lying on the ground. black in early spring are  Apply lime-sulfur sprays to the knot, scab, cedar rust, dormant vines just as buds begin to and and fire blight. swell to prevent anthracnose. eventu If you are or Obtain fungicides with ingredially dering nursery brown ents such as captan, mancozeb, mystock, plan on Fireblight on Apple rot and clobutanil, or thiophanate-methyl to growing diseasebe used for black rot and cane and scab. resistant apples. Nursery catalogs will leaf spot management. indicate varieties that are scab-  Apply fixed copper or Bordeaux Be prepared to apply fungicides as sprays now to prevent peach leaf resistant. the first green leaves are beginning to curl. In some parts of the state, it  Prune out old fire blight cankers appear on the vines and to repeat the may be already too late because of now, while it is still cold, so new inapplications throughout the spring as warm weather, buds may have begun fections won't occur. called for on the pesticide label. to swell and leaf curl infections may Brambles- The raspberry and black Prune also to thin the tree cano- have just begun. berry disease of most concern in the py to allow good air movement and  Prune to thin the tree canopy to spring are anthracnose and orange sunlight penetration. allow good air movement and sun- rust.  Remove and destroy fruit mum- light penetration.  Prune out dead and wintermies left on the tree from last sea Prune out any diseased or can- injured canes. son. kered twigs and branches from the  Apply lime-sulfur fungicide to  Remove nearby cedar trees, trees. the canes in early spring just as the source of rust diseases, if possible.  Remove and destroy last year's buds begin to swell, but before green  Obtain fixed copper or Bordeaux mummified fruit still hanging in the tissue emerges.

Time To Control Fruit Diseases

 Be prepared to remove and de- Strawberries- The diseases of most stroy orange-rust infected blackber- concern in spring will be fruit rot diseases. ries and black rasp Apply straw berries.

These plants will appear mulch to the beds abnormally whitish between the rows and and spindly in early under the canopy so spring as they that fruits will not emerge from the have to touch the ground. ground.  If orange rust is  Provide adequate present in the spacing of the strawBrown Rot On Peach neighborhood, reberry plants to promove and destroy wild blackberries vide good sunlight penetration and growing in nearby fields and fencer- air movement to help reduce gray ows, if feasible. mold fruit rot.

If, because of rainy weather last year,  Hand remove dead leaves and plants died from root rot disease, stems from the strawberry bed to improve drainage in the garden or reduce the presence of the gray mold grow brambles on raised beds. fungus.

If sprays, such as captan, are to be used to prevent fruit rot, the sprays need to be applied to the strawberry flowers in early spring.

Blueberries- The diseases of most concern will be twig blights and cankers.  Prevent twig canker diseases by avoiding stressful growing conditions. Mulch blueberries with organic matter, such as wood chips, and adjust the soil pH if necessary to provide favorable growing conditions.  Prune out dead and dying twigs and branches from the blueberry plants. If, because of wet weather, blueberries are declining and dying due to root rot disease, improve garden soil drainage or grow blueberries on raised beds.

Washington County Master Gardener Association News And Events February 18, Meet at the Opera House Board Room off of Main Street at 6:00 PM. We will have soup pot luck. Joe Rogers will be presenting the Missouri Botanical Garden.

March-Date to be determined, however we will make hypertuffa planters to sell at the Green Festival.

April-Date to be determined, however we will be getting organized for the Green Festival.

Want To Become A Master Gardener?

Contact The Washington County Extension Office For Details New Classes Start Fall 2016

Earthworms Can Cause A Rough Lawn Earthworms, particularly night crawlers, can be abundant in moist soils that contain moderate, or greater, amounts of organic matter.

Worms take in and process soil and organic matter, then deposit the remnants (castings) during nocturnal surface visits. The castings dry into crumbles, leaving a rough, uneven soil surface. Earthworms are a large component of a mole’s diet, so their presence can result in increased tunneling by these small mammals.

Earthworm Activity and Its Benefits No pesticides are registered for earthworm control because of their generally beneficial contributions to soil health. These creatures break down accumulated thatch, pull organic matter into the soil, and dig tunnels that allow increased aeration and water penetration. They also mix large amounts of soil into the thatch layer. This helps to increase microbial activity and enhances growth of turf grass.

Earthworm activity depends directly on soil moisture and temperature. They become active when soil thaws in spring and move deeper as the soil warms and dries.

Management Options There are few options to reduce earthworm activity or to mitigate surface disturbance. A roller may be used to flatten castings. Some golf course managers top-dress with sand in areas where earthworms pose chronic problems. The thought is that this abrasive material will irritate the soft outer covering of earthworms and force them to relocate to sites where their activity is less objectionable.

By Lee Townsend, Extension Entomologist

Prune and Fertilize Fruit Trees Now is the right time to lems arise. This is a moist stagnant prune most fruit trees. Apples, area with little air flow. By thinning plums, pears, cherries and just about the middle of your tree you will inany other tree fruit crease the air flow thus you can think of decrease insect and need a little help disease problems. now before they Branches that actively start pushare crossing or touching out new growth ing should also be re(wait and prune moved. By crossing I peaches after flowmean they ering) Pruning is a are close A good cut healing nicely. Notice the necessary process enough branch collar growing over the wound. that will increase that in a your yields, decrease insect and dis- few years they will be ease problems, and give you a rubbing or touching. healthy tree in the process.

Many times branches will

lent will be tent caterpillar. Their eggs look like raised tar spots on the stem. The egg mass is really hard and it’s easier to prune it out than to try and scrape them off. If you want you can spray your fruit trees with dormant oil labeled for fruit trees, this will smother many of the insect eggs. Be sure to read the label and cover the branches and limbs completely.

If your fruit trees haven’t grown as you wish or don’t seem like they are healthy When pruning fruit trees al- hang lower when the you should have Tent Caterpillar Eggs ways make cuts flush to the branch fruit load is high and will a soil test done. collar, this is the raised area with a cause wounds or bent areas on the As a general rule most fruit trees few wrinkles at the base of each stems. If you think a limb will be a need ¼ pound 33-0-0 or ¾ pound branch or limb. It is important that problem with a large fruit load then 10-10-10 per tree per year of age you don’t leave a stub or cut the limb remove it. broadcast under the tree. Be sure to flush with the take it out to at least the drip line Any dried trunk, meaning “mummy” fruit still hang- where the feeder roots are. If you don’t cut the ing on the tree should be maintain a lawn fertilizer program branch collar your fruit trees probably don’t need removed and composted off. If you leave fertilizing. Over fertilizing can be or discarded. Mummies a stub it will account for the largest in- worse than under fertilizing because have to rot and sect and disease inoculums it will cause a lot of soft succulent fall off before growth, fewer flowers, and increased on most fruit trees. the collar can instance for insect and disease probIf you see any cangrow over and lems. ker spots from fire blight seal off the cut the limb back down wound. If you Prune out fire blight cankers. into healthy wood, but do cut flush to the trunk it may never properly heal and it soon because fire blight will be active starting in mid March. If you you will invite insect and disease are worried about spreading fire problems. blight further then dip your pruning Pruning is necessarily to re- equipment in a 10% bleach solution move damaged branches. Thin out each time you make a cut. the tree especially in the middle Look for insect eggs while Remove fruit mummies! where most insects and disease probpruning your trees. The most preva-

To Do’s For February Trees And Shrubs

If you are growing your own vegetable transplants in window seals or under lights remember as a general rule it takes about six weeks for a good sized transplant to grow.

Don’t apply nitrogen now.

Wait until October, November, or February is a good time to December. Nitrogen applications in prune trees and shrubs. Of course the spring will force your grass to depending on bloom time. grow succulently and quickly causing One note of caution on more frequent mowing and weak This means you can start pruning, if the tree or shrub is an shallow rooted turf which will be ornamental and blooms in the spring broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kohl- more susceptible to drought. rabi, Chinese cabbage, and other don’t prune it until after it blooms. cool season garden plants in mid Apply phosphorus and Fruit trees should be pruned now February. These will be planted in potassium anytime of the year as through the beginning of March. the garden in late March. your soil test indicates.

If you aren’t sure what your Again, take a soil sample now Mid February and March are soil needs it is always a good idea to for your vegetable garden.

This will the times to sow new lawns or over have a soil test done. It only costs keep your fertilizer bill down and seed old ones. September is the best $7.00 and it will save you time and your plants healthy. time but now is the second best. money in the long run.

If you haven’t ordered your Pre-emergent control Now is also a good time to vegetable seeds yet go ahead and do herbicides can be applied in late force branches of flowering trees and it so you will get them in plenty of February and March. This will help shrubs indoors. Several varieties control annual weeds. A second such as flowering quince, dogwood, time for spring. application may be needed in late forsythia, star magnolia, crabapple, Lawn May or June for good crabgrass conflowering cherry, and pussy willow If your lawn needs lime it can trol. Don’t apply pre-emergent herbare all good candidates for forcing. be applied now or anytime. You icides if you sowed or plan to sow Vegetables don’t need lime on a lawn unless the grass seed this spring. pH is below 6.0.

Lincoln Trail Beekeeper’s Association News and Events The beekeepers meet the first Monday of each Month at 6:15 PM at the Washington County Extension Office. If you would like to join, come to a meeting, dues are $10.00. Each meeting has a pot luck so bring a dish!

A Note From Dennis So far so good with the winter weather! Granted we had a big snow, but it melted quickly and we had no subzero weather so our plants are still in good shape. I have stated here several times that I don’t like winter, however so far this one has been easier for me…..being very busy helps!

Tori and Gabby have not had such a good winter, they have had more illnesses this year than the last five combined….I guess you have to catch up on all those bugs sooner or later to strengthen your immune system.

Luckily they have parents with good benefits such as banked sick days so we can alternate who stays home with them. I just don’t know how single parents do it!

If you haven’t had time to check out the new Wheelbarrow Series the class listing is enclosed and I hope to see you soon!

2016 Gardener’s Wheelbarrow Series Schedule You Still Have Time To Sign Up!!!

January

26th

February

9th

February

23rd

March

8th

March

22nd

April

5th

April

12th

April

26th

May

10th

May

24th

June

7th

June

21st

August

16th

August

30th

September 13th September 27th October

11th

October

25th

Morning

Great Annuals For Cutting, From Seed

Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening Morning Evening

Great Annuals For Cutting, From Seed Straw Bale Gardening Straw Gale Gardening Growing Honeyberry In Kentucky Growing Honeyberry In Kentucky Dennis’ Favorite Summer Vegetable Varieties Dennis’ Favorite Summer Vegetable Varieties Dennis’ Perennial Picks Dennis’ Perennial Picks Fabulous Phlox Fabulous Phlox The Summer Garden Headliner, Hardy Hibiscus The Summer Garden Headliner, Hardy Hibiscus Growing Magnificent Melons In Kentucky Growing Magnificent Melons In Kentucky Culinary Herbs For The Epicurean Culinary Herbs For The Epicurean Fabulous Ferns For Indoors And Out Fabulous Ferns For Indoors And Out Hens And Chicks Hens And Chicks Cold Hardy Bamboo Cold Hardy Bamboo Fall Vegetable Production Fall Vegetable Production Pollinator Friendly Gardening Pollinator Friendly Gardening Delightful Daylilies Delightful Daylilies Peonies The Queens Of Spring Peonies The Queens Of Spring Alternative Alliums Alternative Alliums Garden Tool Maintenance And Storage Garden Tool Maintenance And Storage Basic Registration For Any and All Classes Total From Above

Total

$5.00 $5.00 Free!!!

Free!!! $20.00 $20.00 $10.00 $10.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 Free!!!

Free!!! $10.00 $10.00 Free!!!

Free!!!

Free!!!

Free!!!

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Free!!! $15.00 $15.00 $25.00 $25.00 $10.00 $10.00 Free!!!

Free!!! $5.00 x

Washington County Cooperative Extension Service 211 Progress Road Springfield KY, 40069 Office 859-336-7741 Fax 859-336-7445 Email dennis.morgeson@uky.edu

We Are On The Web!!! washington.ca.uky.edu

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/WashingtonCounty-Horticulture/140659449317295

February Recipe Of The Month FebruarySquash RecipeWith of The Month Glazed Butternut Turnips and Carrots Ingredients 1½ cups cubed butternut squash 1½ cups sliced carrots 1½ cups cubed peeled turnips 4 teaspoons oil ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2. Cut vegetables into ½-inch pieces.

3. Coat a 9 x 13–inch baking dish with cooking spray.

4. Combine the first 6 ingredients.

5. Bake for 10 minutes.

6. Stir in syrup and bake an additional 20 minutes.

Cooking spray

2 tablespoons maple syrup